Service-Learning
Student Showcase
Austin Community College
Fall 2023
English 1302, Adjunct Professor Becky Villarreal
Meet the Professor: Becky Villarreal
Adjunct English Professor Becky Villarreal has been teaching at ACC for over 25 years. She is an advocate of social justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, healthcare, freedom of expression, and service-learning.
Key Objectives of English 1302
Critical Thinking - characterized by examination of multiple components of a larger issue
Effective Communication - interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral and visual communication
Social Responsibility - intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities
Personal Responsibility - ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making
What is Service-Learning?
"Service-Learning integrates community engagement into the curriculum and course objectives, fostering a deeper understanding of how disciplinary knowledge connects to the world around us."
Authors and Works that Inspire Positive Change
"Some things you can pull from the past
and some belong to another place that’s
happier and more devastating all at the same time. A place where names evaporate, and
pink tuxedos never go out of style."
- Kevin Broccoli -
Authors and Works that Inspire Positive Change
Tato Laviera: “Lady Liberty”
If you touch me, touch ALL of my people
who need attention and societal repair,
give the tired and the poor
the same attention, AMERICA,
touch us ALL with liberty . . .
for we will never be free
if indeed freedom is subjugated
to trampling upon people's needs.
– Tato Laviera, “Lady Liberty” (1986)
Sandra Cisneros: Female Empowerment
I’m an aim-well,
shoot-sharp,
sharp-tongued,
sharp-thinking,
fast-speaking,
foot-loose,
loose-tongued,
let-loose,
woman-on-the-loose
loose woman.
Beware, honey.
– - Sandra Cisneros, “Loose Woman” (1994)
Emanuel Xavier: Urban Affection
We still live in an America where books cannot prevent war and the sick and wounded need healing
We still live in an America where not everyone can appreciate the beauty of immigration, crowded streets, brutal differences, urban affection
We still live in an America where the same sun that once invigorated your passion continues to provide us with the beauty of life worth fighting for
We still live in an America where America still lives in us
- Emanuel Xavier “Urban Affection” (2013)
English 1302 Service Learning:
Student Experiences
Simple Promise Farms
“Simple Promise Farms cultivates hope, community, and meaningful work for those battling addiction, allowing them to transform their lives and build healthy relationships.”
“Simple Farms is helping those who may have been let down at traditional treatment facilities and giving them another option of treatment and hope for recovery.
I really enjoyed being outdoors and hearing about how they help people whom others might have given up on.”
Jacob Skowronsky
Mission Statement
Pease Park Conservancy
“Pease Park Conservancy celebrates the diverse ecology and history that make Austin’s first public park valuable and unique. The Conservancy works to restore, enhance and maintain this 84-acre public green space for the sustainable use and enjoyment of all. ”
“
Mission Statement
Cayden Reynolds
“I’ve come to understand how crucial it is to better prepare oneself with information about the local flora and take the necessary steps in order to avoid such problems in the future.
Enhancing ourselves and our
communities begins with an understanding of and commitment to protecting our local ecosystems.”
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PEASE PARK CONSERVANCY
Wyatt Weber
“More advocacy through spreading information and prioritizing education will help conservation efforts in Austin tremendously, improve our local environmental standards, and increase the resilience of the native ecological systems in our city.”
PEASE PARK CONSERVANCY
Christian Bryant
“Engaging in the service-learning activity exemplified the profound social impact that dedicated community efforts can have on creating a healthier environment.”
Ragweed removal at Kingsbury Commons
29th Annual Lake Travis Cleanup
A healthy, flowing Texas Colorado River is imperative to the well-being of millions of people throughout the river basin. Big volunteer days like the Lake Travis Cleanup are a great way to remind folks that Lake Travis is part of the river system – we are all connected via the River.
“
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Mission Statement
Eve Moellering
“Picking up only one garbage bag full of trash isn’t much, but I know that I am part of a much larger group who together make a big impact on the cleanliness of the parks.
If I stay around the Austin area in the future, I plan on attending this cleanup every year.”
Zoila Walston
“Being able to sit around
a table and discuss a
topic with people of different faiths restored hope in me because it reminded me of what humans are best at: connecting.”
Mission Statement
“To make all books in the public domain available, narrated by real people and distributed for free, in audio format on the internet.”
Jack Urano
“Librivox is actually a worldwide network of volunteers who help record and convert books into audiobooks for listeners around the world to listen to—I’ve realized that I should volunteer more--
whether it’s smaller opportunities lille this or mission trips to impoverished cities or countries.”
Josh Demars
“I enjoyed working on this project so much that I am planning on recording
more in the future–
particularly some Science Fiction projects!”
Mission Statement
“The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization working to protect and expand voting rights and ensure everyone is represented in our democracy.”
Savannah Fox
“By removing barriers and making it easier for
people to vote, they hope to increase voter turnout and ensure that everyone’s voice is heard.”
Central Texas Food Bank
“A leader in the fight against hunger for nearly 40 years, our mission is to nourish hungry people and lead the community in the fight against hunger.”
Mission Statement
Jenna Gonzalez
“Volunteering absolutely made my heart very happy and I will be volunteering more often.
Central Texas food bank–
keep up the amazing work!!”
https://www.centraltexasfoodbank.org/
Mission Statement
“At Hill Country Community Ministries, we exist to change lives in our community by eliminating hunger and creating pathways to self-reliance through community partnerships.”
Clay Marshall
“This was a very rewarding and humbling experience for me and actually made me feel like I’d like to do this more in the future.
HCCM is really only there to help people– there isn’t much of a personal gain to the organization that I could see other than bringing happiness to the people that came and grabbed food.”
Mission Statement
To create harmonious and supportive community of Nepalese in the Greater Austin Area by sharing our Nepali cultural heritage by preserving and promoting it.
Shivam Mehta
“I know I did something right when there was an older person who said it was good to see someone younger helping, as a lot of people my age didn’t really care much about the culture.”
Mission Statement
Emma Lopez
I think volunteering at Texas Thrift opened my eyes to see how important it is to donate
rather than throw away unwanted things.
Even if you may think something has no value, someone out there can find a purpose.
“Our family of thrift stores meets the needs of thrift families by providing a huge array of unique, quality, gently used merchandise at prices far below retail.”
Mission Statement
Since its inception, El Buen has been at the forefront of responding to the many social-environmental factors leading to lack of access to health care, social services, education,and nutrition.
Nereida Rivera-Acuna
“There is no shame in receiving help when it is needed. I opted to return to school to be a Social Worker to help families that need assistance and do not know how to obtain those resources.
We should all try to make time to volunteer.”
St. Jude Children’s Hospital
Mission Statement
“St. Jude’s Hospital’s mission is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. They use donations so families never receive a bill.”
Sayra De Luna
“I have always wanted to be a pediatric nurse or a speech therapist that helps children and want to continue pursuing this career path.”
Cedar Park Football & Cheer
Sophia Franco
“This serving experience gave me the ability to have an impact on these girls, while also receiving more experience as a coach.
I would not trade this experience for the world.”
Thank you to Presentation Helper: Zoila Walston
“[I]t is possible to live in a pluralistic society such as ours and navigate difficult topics with respect, kindness and love.
It gives me hope for a better future.”
Thanks Again to Creative Designer:
Annabella Alexander (Spring 2023)
“I’ve gone without a home, been extremely impoverished, and the person in need. If the only thing you’re able to give to someone suffering is the feeling of hope, then you’ve done enough.
Being homeless taught me how to survive; becoming a mother taught me how to heal.”
-Annabella Alexander